Soft, spicy, smooth to the palette with a long finish... those were just a few of the expressions used to describe ‘Black Barrel’, the latest addition to the Mount Gay Distilleries line of products, as it added another exciting spark to 2014 for the oldest rum producing company on the island.

A selected group of persons got the opportunity this weekend to sample the spirit and to be educated on the unique blending process used a produce it – double barrel maturation to be exact.

The rum, which falls between Eclipse and Extra Old is currently only sold at Mount Gay’s Visitor Centre and at the Grantley Adams International Airport. However, Managing Director, Raphael Grisoni, disclosed that the spicy toned spirit would be officially released on the market in April.

That launch comes on the heels of Pure Silver, a new blend of Mount Gay white rum which came out in January. According to Grisoni, the feedback from this product has been great, and it is expected that the Black Barrel will perform exceptionally. He noted that a lot was invested into the product which he said was not an “in and out product, but a product that was here for the long haul”.

Though the Barbadian market continues to be challenging, the company’s Managing Director said that it will continue to make the necessary investments in the creation and promotion of its products, believing that quality of rum offerings is what distinguishes the Mount Gay brand in the eyes of local consumers. Internationally, the company is seeing a growth of 8 to 9 per cent per year.

Grisoni added that the company continued to pride itself on the excellent staff which it possessed, adding that despite the challenging economy, it had not reduced its employment figures. “I’ve always been a strong believer in the more people you have that are dedicated and passionate and professional, they are the ones who then can make the difference [for your company’s performance].” (RS)